This week, it’s the turn of the professionals to tell us which records rocked their respective worlds over the last 12 months.
In the time-honoured tradition of end of year ‘best of…’ lists, we’ve asked some of our closest DJ pals to pick their Top 3 tracks of the year and tell us a little about what makes them so special. A tricky proposition, given the amount of superb music that has been released this year, but we think they’ve done a pretty good job of justifying which records make them especially moist in 2011.
Franky Rizardo
Osunlade - Envision (Ame Remix)
My personal highlight this year was Ushuaia in Ibiza and this track defined my Ibiza experience. The amount of remixes and edits of this track make sure that there is always a moment in my set to play it. All ages and nationalities love this track, which is a rare thing to find in a record.
Intruder (A Murk Production) feat. Jei – Amame (Long Ass Mix)
I’ve been hooked on this tracks from the moment Sam from Copyright first played it to me. Everywhere and every time I play it people still come up to me and ask me what the hell it is!
Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun Vox)
I have had some amazing goosebump moments when I’ve played this track and people are already going crazy from the first few chords. A great remix by Solomun.
Human Life
Forward Motion - Hot Natured
Forward Motion was just a very special track for Human Life this year... really great bassline and vocal but the lyrics are what made this the top track for us... a Space anthem!
Your Everything - Danny Daze
From the first time we heard 'Your Everything' we KNEW it was a bomb. It works in all types of situations and with all types of crowds; it’s really essential for us to have a track like this that can turn heads, especially when we’re starting our set after someone playing way too aggressively!
Miguel Campbell - Something Special
This track is just so sexy and the deep house meets French touch vibe is perfect.
Ridney
James Talk & Ridney feat. Max C – One For Me
I'm sorry to go straight for one of our own, but it’s fair to say this has been a staple part of my DJ sets all year. Along with the big-room Jay Wilder remix, this has rocked my dancefloors all summer from Ibiza to The Box at Ministry of Sound! BIG!
Deetron – Starblazer
I guess simplicity is the key to a great record, and they don't come much better than this. I'm sure I've heard it pretty much everywhere since the end of May, and those piano stabs never fail to put a big smile on my face. Coupled with a brilliant vocal stab, a true testament to a brilliant record is when it still gets full support from all the major DJs six months after release!
MK – Burning (James Talk & Ridney Remix)
A classic record from a true house master, which was a real honour to remix. Those classic house sounds never go away and this record has proved the heads know what they want when it comes to dancefloor bombs. A huge tune in all its various guises over the past months.
Copyright
Osunlade - Envision
Quite simply the best record of the year for us. The original was a firm favourite in the front of our box. And then just in time for Ibiza, came the Ame mix, which took it to a whole other level. We played this peak time at Pacha in the summer, and the react was amazing. Now theres some dope edits kicking around which means we are still playing this every week.
DJ Meme - Canto Pro Mar
OK OK, I know its on our label. But this record has been a mainstay of our all year and hit the traxsource top 3 house tracks of the year. Supported by Knuckle, Morales and many many others this was DJ Meme throwing down some classic beats along with a classic Brazilian song. The result has been smashing our sets ever since.
Kevin Saunderson presents Inner City - Future (Deep See Soundsystem Mix)
A late contender, but has to be in our list. From the first moment I heard this I thought - Classic. Just goes to show that Inner City haven't lost a drop of their soul and quality in the many years since their last record. I wish records like this came out every week. AWESOME.
James Talk
4th Measure Men - 4 You (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
This record was a highlight at the beginning of 2011. Maya delivered a perfect tribute to a classic record, while still managing to make it her own. The haunting melody and vocal suit her style perfectly, and this mix put her well and truly on the map.
Ridney - Good Shout
Personally this is my favourite track Ridney has released, and probably my most played of 2011. The bassline is rolling and funky, and always gets a great dance floor reaction, the way it builds, its almost relentless, but wickedly groovy.
Midland - Through Motion
This record is beautiful, it has subtle pianos, vocals and so much atmosphere. It's almost under produced, which makes it even cooler. The vocal "You start to believe your own lies" adds an emotional edge, while delivering quite a real message. The breakdown wouldn't be out of place in a movie score either. Midland is another up and coming UK artist with so much soul in his music.
Danism
Danism – Love The Way (Crazy P Mix)
2011 was the definitely the year of the remix for us. And this Crazy P remix released back in January on Defected is by far the most amazingly classic house record of 2011.
Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun Vox)
A lesson in how to take a record to another level entirely. Solomun totally smashed the remix, and Haze’s vocal is as on point as always.
Frankie Knuckles presents Director's Cut feat. Jamie Principle – Your Love (Belocca Remix)
A peak time bumpy bassliner; awesome remix of an awesome track on Nocturnal Groove – the label of the year for me.
DJ Chus
Kevin Saunderson presents Inner City - Future (Kenny Larkin Tension Mix)
From the first time I heard it I knew this was a track that would make history; the message of this song will ensure it’s a future classic! But the epic moment came in Amsterdam when I was dancing in the middle of the dance floor to the live performance of Kevin and Inner City at Defected's ADE party. You can't imagine my happiness when Simon asked me to remix it, it is one of the most important challenges of the year and one to which I devote my body and soul!
Osunlade – Envision
This is one of those songs that touches my soul. It’s not one of those that I can play in every club but when I find the perfect moment, there’s no doubt that it will be the song of the night! I would not mind remixing it!
Copyright – Story Of My Life (DJ Chus & David Penn Mix)
This is what I call a song with feeling. It’s a story that many people can relate to, and I just love to see all the happy, smiling faces when I play it out. David and I really enjoyed remixing this song; it was an incredible experience and for us is one of our best remixes of the year!
Sam Divine
Intruder (A Murk Production) feat. Jei – Amame (Long Ass Mix)
This has got to be my favourite track from the Ibiza closing parties and from ADE; everyone from Seth Troxler to Kerri Chander and Dennis Ferrer was caning it.
Miguel Cambpell - Something Special
The first time I played this at Ushuaia this summer will always remain a really special moment. Sun shining, lots of smiling faces in front of me, Funktion One sound system… good times!
Kevin Saunderson presents Inner City - Future (Kevin Saunderson & Orlando Voorn Deep See Sound System Mix)
I absolutely love this mix and the Kenny Larkin Remix. Simon Dunmore played it to me for the first time in his office and the hairs stood up on my arms, instant classic written all over it. Great track.
Andy Daniell
Hot Natured – Forward Motion
This is a record from quite early in the year. I think it started floating around in Miami, but I think this was for me the starting point of the year that culminated in Jamie Jones him coming at No. 1 in the RA top 100 DJs chart… he could just do no wrong. A string of stella remixes, this record, Hot Natured becoming the hottest label around and of course his stunning DJ sets. Easily one of my tracks of the year!
Osunlade – Envision (Ame Remix)
Osunlade is a total legend and this is a cut off his “last house album ever”. This is an incredible record in its own right but then Ame remixed it and took it to another level. This fast became one of THE records of Ibiza 2011.
Intruder – Amame
Another record that has been around since close to the beginning of the year. This was released on vinyl only around Miami this year. Then over the summer it was a bit of an undiscovered gem being championed by DJs like Seth Troxler. We then signed the record and are putting together some great remixes for next year. From a personal POV as a huge fan of MURK it’s great to see new material from them, especially when it’s as awesome as this.
Aaron Ross
Tom Middleton - Cicadas (Maya Jane Coles Remix)
My first signing for Lo Rise so it’s a pretty special one for me – lucky enough to have been chatting with Maya around the time I’d signed the record, I played it to her and she loved it and did this pretty special remix for us!
Ian Pooley - Organic
A great track from the original German deep house don... Another Lo:Rise release that was a big tune for my DJ sets over the summer and into autumn.
Osunlade - Envision
Timeless, unique, deep yet also peaktime are some of the words that spring to mind when I think about this track.. it shows why Osunlade is truly one of the greats of our time.
Rae
Goodmen – Give it Up (Chocolate Puma’s 2011 Edit)
The return of an all time classic, bigger and badder and absolutely smashing up the floor every time it drops! Thank you Chocolate Puma for bringing it back and putting some serious energy out there.
Sandy Rivera - Finally (Sandy Rivera & Simon Mattson's Piano 2011 Remix)
An anthem, such special vibes, I drop this and get lost in the feeling, hear the song and dream away...not many tracks can do that to you. Beautiful.
Frankie Knuckles pres. Director's Cut feat. Jamie Principle - Your Love (Belocca & Soneec Vocal Dub - Final Master)
We all love the original but I really liked the freshness of this mix, a techy infectious groove that hooked me in the first time I heard it. Excellent work.
